No matter how many new vehicles hit the market, we’re always chasing something different – something built for us and no one else. A rig that stands apart from the crowd, tailored to our needs, not the showroom spec.

Toyota’s 4×4 range is one of the biggest around – surely there’s something for everyone? Not for Graeme. He wanted something different: the comfort of a wagon, the practicality of a ute, and the classic cool of a vintage 80 Series. Oh, and it had to have a V8 – not just any V8, but the twin-turbo diesel from the 200 Series LandCruiser.

Graeme is a farmer in regional Victoria and like most make their living off the land in Australia, he is no stranger to Toyota. There’s always a HiLux or two in the shed or running around the paddocks, and his current fleet also includes a pair of 40th Anniversary 80 Series and a couple of 79 Series workhorses. 

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The 79 Series LandCruiser was too agricultural for the build Graeme had in mind, and the HiLux too small. So he went looking for someone who could bring his vision to life.

Enter Off Track Concepts (OTC) in Cobram, Victoria. Hagen Skinner and the team at OTC have been dropping 1VD V8s into 80 and 100 Series LandCruisers for years, and one of their earlier builds even featured in these pages back in 2024.

“From the first time I contacted Hagen and said that I wanted a chopped 80 with extended chassis and a V8, he just said yes, he could do all that,” recalls Graeme.

The plan was to use one of the anniversary models that Graeme already had but then another one came up that had a better body, ARB bull bar and roof rack, but a dodgy transfer case. And yes, it’s another 1997 40th Anniversary 80 Series.

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Chassis strip and VDJ engine conversion

As you’d expect from a build that involves an engine swap and stretched wheelbase, the first step was stripping the LandCruiser back to a bare chassis.

Once that was done, it was time to blast away 28 years of built-up grime before breaking out the cutting tools. The rear of the chassis was lopped off just ahead of the suspension arm mounts, allowing OTC to retain the factory Toyota geometry when the section was reattached 300mm further back. Up front, custom engine mounts were fabricated to house the Toyota V8, and the known weak point around the steering box was reinforced before the entire chassis was finished in two-pack black.

 While a donor 200 Series supplied many of the parts for the conversion, its engine was already cooked. So the team sourced a brand-new 1VD from Toyota, along with a new six-speed auto and a 79 Series transfer case. The engine is actually a 79 Series–spec single-turbo unit, chosen because it comes with the correct sump to fit neatly into the 80 Series chassis.

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A pair of G Turbo Green Wheel turbos were bolted on, supported by a mix of 200 Series and custom-fabricated piping and ancillaries to make everything fit in the 90s-era engine bay. A set of +90 injectors and a custom ECU remap had the 1VD running sweet, and on the dyno it laid down an impressive 1000Nm and 245kW at the tyres.

The engine breathes through an OTC-fabricated airbox and snorkel, while Hagen also custom-built the dual three-inch stainless-steel exhaust. His handiwork continues with the shroud and twin fans mounted to the PWR intercooler.

As expected, the 200 Series six-speed auto bolts straight up to the 1VD. At the other end, a Wholesale Automatics adapter mates the transmission to the 79 Series transfer case without fuss. The 80 Series diffs have been refurbished with new bearings seals and hardware including ARB Air Lockers front and rear.

Custom trayback and body modifications

Before the classic 80 Series body could be reunited with its stretched, repowered chassis, the rear section was chopped off behind the back doors. A custom one-piece panel and rear window were fabricated and fitted, sealing it up as a double-cab ute. 

Aside from the chopped rear, the only other departure from Toyota’s classic lines is the bonnet. OTC worked its magic here too, grafting the 79 Series bonnet bulge and scoop onto the 80 Series skin to feed the intercooler. It’s a work of art and it looks factory. About the only thing Hagen and the OTC crew didn’t handle was the bodywork and paint. That was outsourced, with the panels tidied up and resprayed in factory white.

Back at the OTC workshop, the aluminium tray was completed and bolted on. Up front, the original ARB bullbar was modified to house a set of ARB Intensity lights, then refitted along with a Bushranger Covert winch and ARB side rails.

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ARB was also the go-to for the suspension, with a full OME BP-51 setup fitted, along with a twin air compressor neatly mounted in one of the under-tray toolboxes. While the tray-back and modest tyre size suit work duties around Graeme’s property, the Cruiser will also see touring use, so an OTC canopy is on the way for the tray, along with an auxiliary fuel tank to extend the driving range.

Inside, the cabin has been upgraded for touring comfort and functionality. Recaro Specialist L seats hold the driver and front passenger in place, while a Sony head unit brings modern audio and sat-nav capability. A ScanGauge 3 sits in clear view to monitor engine vitals, and the cabin has been fully sound-deadened for a quieter ride.

OTC also built the custom centre console, which houses the 200 Series transmission’s gear shifter alongside the 70 Series transfer case lever. The part-time 4×4 system keeps things simple, even when backed by a thoroughly modern drivetrain. Just because the OEMs didn’t build your dream rig doesn’t mean it can’t exist. With a clear vision and the help of the skilled crew at Off Track Concepts, Graeme brought his dream LandCruiser to life.

It’s a seamless fusion of classic 80 Series charm, modern V8 muscle and the practicality of a tray-back setup ready for work or touring.

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